Quinn Simmons wins the Japan Cup in Utsunomiya, closing Lidl-Trek's season in style
Simmons went clear with Ben Healy with two laps remaining and stayed with the Irishman to the line. Behind them, Julien Bernard finished sixth and Sam Oomen came home just outside the top ten.
“Quinn was chasing this victory so hard,” said sports director Bernie Eisel. “It’s always nice to finish the season as a team with a victory.”
How it unfolded
Bernard made the early break of 17 riders, making sure Lidl-Trek were always represented at the head of the race, and ready for any scenario. The Frenchman kept the pressure on the peloton until Simmons bridged across with a strong group.
A lap later the front group had thinned to six or seven riders. With two in front, Lidl-Trek used the numerical advantage, with Simmons and Bernard taking turns attacking.
Healy had also been attacking for some time, while Simmons was already pushing the pace on the flat. On the first kick with two laps to go, the pair went clear. The group behind hesitated, and quickly it was clear that the win would come from the leading duo.
This was just the perfect moment for him to go and not to wait. - Eisel
The two leaders steadily opened a gap of around two and a half minutes. Knowing there was no danger approaching from behind, Simmons could follow Healy’s moves and keep his powder dry.
He knew the climb on the final lap was the danger. Once he was over it with Healy, the sprint suited him. Simmons took the win and gave the crowd a salute as he crossed the line.
Behind, Bernard sat in the chase group and finished sixth. Oomen, who had covered the moves behind all day with Matteo Sobrero, finished just outside the top ten.
Winning quotes
Quinn Simmons: “When you take the start and Ben is here, I think everyone knew we were the two strongest in the race. Luckily the course is selective enough that we can make the difference and have a fair battle between us. I was quite confident in my sprint, so I just knew I had to make it over the climb the last time.
“With Julien in the front, that’s probably the key aspect. We joke that he’s Mr Japan – he always performs here. With both Sammy and Matteo covering all the moves behind, I basically had to do nothing until it was the hard moment. With only four, we never missed one move.
“The fans have really embraced the Captain America, so I just wanted to sign off for the season and give them a salute, to say thank you to Japan for putting on such a nice race.”
Julien Bernard: “I wasn’t planning to be in the break, but there were 17 guys in the front, so I needed to be part of it. Then we decided to attack, one time Quinn, one time me, to make the other guys a bit more tired. Quinn made the decisive attack on the climb with Ben. Behind, for me it was more of a holiday.
“We know Quinn is quite fast in the sprint, so I’m happy we finished the season with another victory at the Japan Cup. We booked a good restaurant in Tokyo to celebrate, and now Quinn has a reason to pay tonight.”
Bernie Eisel, sports director: “Julien has done this race seven times and he’s always won something – a stage, the crit or the road race. So for the future we have to keep bringing him, even when he retires, as a mascot. But he was definitely not a mascot today. He was one of the deciding riders of the whole day.
“The crowd was amazing once more. I haven’t been here for 11 years, but the crowd is just getting better and better. This is how every bike race in the world should be.”
